USC in Paris: Meet the Trojans’ Olympians headed to the 2024 Summer Games A sport-by-sport breakdown of the 63 past, current and future USC athletes going to Paris to compete in the Olympics USC will have several people with Trojans ties representing the United States in the Paris Olympics, including, clockwise from top left, Andy Benesh (beach volleyball), Micah Christenson (indoor volleyball), Michael Norman (track and field), Emily Ausmus (women’s water polo), Twanisha Terry (track and field) and the team of Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes (beach volleyball). (Ausmus by Keith Birmingham, Pasade ..read more

USC’s Jennifer Cohen says Trojans are ‘well positioned’ for new revenue-sharing era USC AD Jennifer Cohen speaks during men’s basketball coach Eric Musselman’s intro presser at Galen Center on April 5. Cohen said she is confident about the Trojans’ future amid a new era of revenue sharing. (Myung J. Chun / LAT) Ryan Kartje (LA Times)  —  Nearly two months after the NCAA and its power conferences agreed to a settlement that would allow college athletes to be paid directly by their schools, USC athletic director Jennifer Cohen still has far more questions than answers ..read more

Absolutely not. Actually, whatever Paul Finebaum says is pure entertainment for the CFB world. I mean that in the best sense of that description. It’s all good. His overly malicious comments about Lincoln Riley bring eyeballs and ears to the sport, so his comically haughty yet sourpuss, self-important persona is something to laugh at for me. I couldn’t care less about some of his off-the-wall opinions, though he should be pretty damn well informed and clued-in about the SEC. But anybody who denies that Lane Kiffin has done anything less than fantastic work at OLE MISS is ei ..read more

How USC’s JuJu Watkins is improving amid her ‘summer of LA stardom’ Watkins is honing her left hand in workouts with trainer Phil Handy after having minor surgery on her right hand USC women’s basketball player JuJu Watkins reacts after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a game between the Angels and Dodgers on June 22, 2024, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Luca Evans (OC Register)  —  LOS ANGELES — The festivities slowly cleared Thursday morning on the track at Hollywood High, and JuJu Watkins had begun to walk off from one Lo ..read more

USC President Carol Folt has her contract extended, despite a tumultuous spring A university spokesperson confirms Folt’s contract was amended as her original five-year deal was set to expire at the end of June USC President Dr. Carol Folt speaks during a Galen Center presser introducing new USC men’s basketball coach Eric Musselman on Friday, April 5, 2024. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Luca Evans (OC Register)  —  LOS ANGELES — After months of on-campus turmoil stemming from nationwide protests over the Israel-Hamas war and criticisms over her handling of ..read more

USC has a massive future Big Ten piece in O-line commit Elijah Vaikona The 6-foot-8, 370-pound Vaikona, a 2025 tackle from Santa Margarita High who committed to the Trojans last week, is one of the two largest offensive linemen in his class Santa Margarita High OT Elijah Vaikona trains during an offseason workout. (Photo courtesy of Aubrey Lao) Luca Evans (OC Register)  —  LOS ANGELES — It was raining on the day Arizona State’s Marcus Arroyo came down to Santa Margarita High in January, pelting down upon the Eagles’ home turf. Their regularly scheduled programming was washed away, a ..read more

Column: Lakers’ decision to draft Bronny James is a costly move toward chaos Bronny James sits on the bench during a game between USC and Eastern Washington in November. Bronny ultimately stands to pay the steepest price with the Lakers’ decision to draft him on Thursday. (Robert Gauthier / LAT) Bill Plaschke (LA Times)  —  It’s historical, it’s heartwarming, it’s the brightest of headlines for a franchise desperately in need of some good news. But it’s not very smart. And, for two of the main people involved, it’s not very fair. Thus a wet blanket should be tossed over the  ..read more

NBA draft: USC’s Isaiah Collier could slide and be a steal Evaluating the potential NBA fits for former Trojans Isaiah Collier, Bronny James and Boogie Ellis Guards Boogie Ellis (5) and Isaiah Collier (1) celebrate after Ellis scores a three-pointer vs ASU during the second half on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Los Angeles. USC 81-73. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.) Luca Evans (OC Register)  —  LOS ANGELES — In early December, a day after a loss in which he missed 10 shots and seven free throws, Isaiah Collier stepped into former USC assistant coach Eric Mobley’s office for some guidance ..read more

Just a year after coming out of USC undrafted, Drew Peterson is an NBA champ The former three-year USC mainstay spoke to the Southern California News Group on a wild journey to winning a title with the Boston Celtics USC’s Drew Peterson reacts after a basket against UCLA in the second half at Pauley Pavilion on Thursday, Jan 5, 2023. UCLA won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Luca Evans (OC Register)  —  LOS ANGELES — Eventually, Drew Peterson heard it so much he just got used to it. He was close. Close. But never good enough. He was always the older ..read more

USC will opt into revenue-sharing model proposed in House v. NCAA settlement If the landmark settlement is approved in a district court, USC could begin diverting a significant portion of athletic revenue in direct payments to its athletes QB Jake Jensen #17  during the USC spring game at the L.A Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, April 20, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Luca Evans (OC Register)  —  In late April, speaking at an event hosted by USC’s NIL collective House of Victory, Lincoln Riley told a room full of donors that he made the decision to ..read more